Shows
The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Fantastic Four #21-23/Colonel AmericaAnd we're back to Ultimate Fantastic Four! Josh and Nabeel dive into the beginning of the Mark Millar/Greg Land run on Ultimate FF! First up: the first appearance of Marvel Zombies! The guys have a blast with these issues, despite their issues with Greg Land's art. Josh calls it the Michael Bay movie of comics, and Nabeel agrees. Lots of comparisons to 616 Marvel, lots of oversexualized artwork, and lots of explosions. Oh boy!
2025-08-2853 minThe Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men #50-53/Wolverine Ruins Our DayThe guys are finally talking about Ultimate Marvel again! Nabeel and Josh dive back into Ultimate X-Men! An exciting arc by Brian K. Vaughan and Andy Kubert, featuring the return of Gambit! The guys really enjoy these issues, despite some problematic aspects of the story. These issues are full of relationship drama, superhero action, incestuous supervillains, and more (yes, you read that last part correctly)!
2025-08-211h 11The Ultimate Comics PodcastIt's Paul Over Now, Spider-Fans (feat. Annika Falconer)SPOILERS FOR ALL-NEW VENOM AHEAD! A crazy special episode on possibly the most infamous Spider-Man character of all time: Paul! Given recent events in All-New Venom, Nabeel and Josh take the opportunity to discuss Paul Rabin and his reviled place in spider-fandom. Returning guest Annika Falconer moderates a debate between the boys! Nabeel thinks Paul sucks and should be gone from the Spider-Man comics, while Josh accepts that Paul happened and we should all move on. A wild episode full of crazy comic book exposition and some deeply flawed literary references!
2025-08-141h 15The Ultimate Comics PodcastFantastic Four: First Steps Review/New York AccentsSPOILERS FOR FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS! Josh and Nabeel review the new Fantastic Four film! Surprise, surprise: they loved it! As two major Fantastic Four fans, Nabeel and Josh have been waiting for years for this film, and it didn't disappoint! The guys rave about almost everything, from the Easter Eggs to the wonderful characterization of the titular heroes. All this, plus we get to hear Josh's New York accent!
2025-07-311h 24The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Fantastic Four #13-20/Lost In Space!And we're back to Ultimate Fantastic Four (conveniently timed, just when the movie is coming out)! Josh and Nabeel dive into the third major story arc in this series, and it's a big one! The Fantastic Four delve into the Negative Zone, meet Annihilus, and one member undergoes a startling metamorphosis! The guys love this story arc, as it delivers the classic sci-fi adventure tale that the FF comics are known for. They also cover a two-parter that's mainly filler, but gives us a new spin on a classic FF villain!
2025-07-241h 19The Ultimate Comics PodcastSuperman Review/Lex Luthor Took 40 Cakes!MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SUPERMAN (2025)! Josh and Nabeel both saw Superman and were very eager to give their thoughts! The guys have a spoiler-filled discussion about the story, the characters, and the comics that inspired the latest Superman film! As usual, Josh and Nabeel geek out a little too much and Josh goes on several unnecessary tangents!
2025-07-171h 31The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #66-71/Feat. Taylor Swift (Not Really)The boys continue with Ultimate Spider-Man! We got an exciting series of two-parters, with guest-stars galore! The infamous body-swap issues with Wolverine! A classic teen-team-up with The Human Torch! And a trek through Spidey's nightmares with Doctor Strange('s son)! Josh and Nabeel think these issues are super fun and a great breather from some of the heavier content. All this, plus, the boys sing along to some of their favorite Taylor Swift songs!
2025-07-101h 22The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #60-65/Mocking the FrenchAaand we're back to Ultimate Spider-Man! Josh and Nabeel dive into the Ultimate Carnage storyline! This unique spin on Carnage combines elements of several classic Spider-Man stories into its own stand-alone tale! The guys love this arc, although Nabeel feels the storylines are getting a bit repetitive. The stakes are upped, drama unfolds, and a key Spidey character dies! All this, plus the usual Josh tangents!
2025-07-031h 30The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men #46-49/Pumped Up KicksOur longest cold open to date! Josh and Nabeel dive into Ultimate X-Men, under the new creative team of Brian K. Vaughan (if you've heard of him) and Brandon Peterson! Josh doesn't feel that this specific story arc is super important, but he's okay with that. Nabeel thinks this arc is important because it introduces Mister Sinister and Apocalypse to Ultimate Marvel! The guys both enjoy the character dynamics/character spotlights in these issues. Plus: cameos galore!
2025-06-191h 15The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Fantastic Four #7-12/It's Free Rent!Josh and Nabeel dive into the second arc of Ultimate Fantastic Four! The guys talk a lot about the featured villain: Doctor Doom himself! It's an exciting story arc that continues to explore the FF and flesh out their arch-nemesis. Featuring: a lot about the FF's biology! Sue Storm character analysis! Great feats by The Human Torch! An anarchist commune in Denmark! And so much more! Plus: Josh tells us how Ozzy Osbourne became a mutant!
2025-06-121h 16The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men #40-45/Twinks Don't FightThe conclusion to the short-lived Brian Michael Bendis/David Finch run on Ultimate X-Men! The guys have a lot to say about these issues! We get introduced to a slew of X-Men characters, including Angel, Emma Frost, Dazzler, and more! There is also an incredible single issue spotlighting Wolverine and the problem with the mutant metaphor. Josh and Nabeel have a lot of opinions on Professor X, his dream, and all the mutants along the way! This is a good one, Marvelites!
2025-06-051h 23The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #54-59/Papa John's Fried Chicken SandwichBack to Ultimate Spider-Man! Josh and Nabeel cover the "Hollywood" arc, which guest-stars Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi! A very fun storyline which features the return of Doc Ock (looking more and more like Alfred Molina) and drama with Gwen Stacy. The guys end on a tangent about Spider-Man 3, because why not? Plus: several wacky tangents from Josh!
2025-05-221h 19The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Fantastic Four #1-6/Sue Storm at the Doctor's OfficeJosh and Nabeel finally get to Ultimate Fantastic Four! The guys dive deep into Marvel's First Family and the significance of this updated origin (Josh also made Nabeel watch Fant4stic before this, so your hosts have done their due diligence). Adam Kubert's artwork is gorgeous as ever, and we see a rare collaboration between Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar! Join us for this seminal episode!
2025-05-151h 15The Ultimate Comics PodcastThunderbolts* Review/Josh is a ProfessionalMAJOR SPOILERS FOR THUNDERBOLTS* AHEAD! The guys give their full review of Thunderbolts*! Surprise surprise, they loved it! Josh and Nabeel talk about the Thunderbolts from the comics, how the movie adapts the team, and overall thoughts about the film. The boys discuss the overarching plot, specific characters, and the future of the MCU as a whole. An exciting break in format, perfect for new listeners!
2025-05-131h 08The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Six #1-7/RIP Stilt-ManThe guys dive into Ultimate Six! A seminal series that not only introduces us to the Ultimate Sinister Six, but also features a major crossover between Spider-Man and The Ultimates! Needless to say, Josh and Nabeel love these issues. Ultimate Six features thought-provoking themes, great character moments, and blockbuster action. Plus: Nabeel and Josh go on tangents about washing your hair, wine tasting, Freddie Prinze Junior, and more!
2025-05-081h 30The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Adventures #1-6/Josh Kang is...The Fly!The guys take a weird turn into Ultimate Adventures! This mini-series honestly has a more interesting behind-the-scenes story than the actual plot of the comic. Josh and Nabeel don't think it's the worst thing in the world, but it certainly feels out of place in Ultimate Marvel. An interesting commentary on Batman and Robin, an insanely goofy villain, and some overly quippy dialogue keep the guys talking. Plus: Josh shares his method for writing fan-fiction, and Nabeel keeps confusing owls with hawks!
2025-05-011h 13The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #47-53/With Great Power Comes Great WedgiesMore Ultimate Spider-Man! Josh and Nabeel cover a couple of major story arcs, including the milestone 50th issue spectacular! Featuring: The debut of Ultimate Black Cat! The return of The Kingpin (and The Enforcers)! Character development for both J. Jonah Jameson and MJ! Elektra ('cause why not)! Not to mention a problematic political candidate, more slander on Spider-Man's name, and the mysterious Lifeline Tablet! Join us for this, the Ultimate Age of Comics!
2025-04-241h 34The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men #34-39/Wolverine Needs Older FriendsA new era of Ultimate X-Men! Josh and Nabeel cover the first arc of Ultimate X-Men by Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch (Spoiler: they love it!) Guest stars galore, in this Wolverine-centric comic. Spider-Man! Daredevil! Black Widow! It honestly feels more like a Spider-Man or Marvel Team-Up comic than an X-Men comic at times! The guys love how this issue works to redeem Ultimate Wolverine while being a fun, fast-paced action thriller. Plus: The guys discuss how horrible Wolverine must smell for Daredevil!
2025-04-171h 19The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #40-45/Uncle Ben's Life InsuranceThe boys are finally back to Ultimate Spider-Man! After a long streak of X-Men-related content, Josh and Nabeel are relieved to be back to good ol' Spidey. The guys love how personal and down-to-Earth these issues are. These issues are full of character analysis, romance, parties, and a few exploding vehicles! Of course, just when you think you've got a break, the X-Men make a guest appearance! Plus: plenty of witty repartee with our very own Joshua J. Kang!
2025-04-101h 15The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men Retrospective/The Gardener vs. The HulkNow for something completely different! Josh and Nabeel take an episode to reflect on Mark Millar and Adam Kubert's run on Ultimate X-Men. The guys talk about it all: the characters, the stories, the artwork, the writing, you name it. The boys get into the good, the bad, and the very weird. Josh and Nabeel even pull up an old interview from Mark Millar himself, talking about his approach to Ultimate X-Men! A great catch-up episode for both longtime and new listeners!
2025-04-031h 23The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men #27-33/Wolverine's Questionable RizzThe end of an era! Josh and Nabeel finish up the Mark Millar/Adam Kubert run on Ultimate X-Men with "Return of the King"! The guys have so much to talk about with these issues, including the action-packed story, the great character moments, and a moderately unsettling ending. Very fun comics discussed by some very fun hosts! Plus: Nabeel antagonizes Cyclops fans (even though he is one)!
2025-03-271h 27The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate War #1-4/Ninja Assassin Orthodox JewsIt's the first major Ultimate Marvel crossover! Josh and Nabeel dive into a clash between The Ultimates and The X-Men! Magneto's return has put The Ultimates on his trail, with The X-Men caught in the middle! The guys talk about hero vs. hero storylines, Avengers vs. X-Men, Ultimate War's connection to current political events, and much more! Plus: more unnecessary cannibalism!
2025-03-201h 23The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men #21-26/The Meat, The Sauce, No BreadJosh and Nabeel are back into Ultimate X-Men! The guys are so happy to be covering something they enjoy again (for the most part). Josh gives these issues a solid B-, since the depiction of Wolverine is still pretty nasty. In these issues, we also get the introduction of Kitty Pryde, a new take on the Dark Phoenix Saga, a big moment for Iceman, Beast getting catfished, and much, much more! It's fun times all around (with the occasional tangent about the east coast vs. west coast)!
2025-03-131h 31The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Iron Man II #1-5/Soggy CarrotsJosh and Nabeel finish the fight with Ultimate Iron Man II (The Search for More Money)! These issues are better than the first series, but that's not really saying much. Nabeel is over it and Josh has so many questions. At the very least, Pasqual Ferry's art is gorgeous, there's more action, more corporate intrigue and 1000% more Tony Stark getting blown to smithereens! Plus: A special shout-out to our Italian listeners!
2025-03-061h 09The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Iron Man #1-5/Take Him to the BathroomJosh and Nabeel tackle possibly their weirdest Ultimate comics so far: Ultimate Iron Man! The series so controversial it was retconned out of Ultimate Marvel canon entirely! The guys are bewildered by this bizarre mini-series, ultimately asking themselves: who let this happen? Interesting ideas are introduced, yet so many unnecessary changes are made to Iron Man for this series to work. Plus: Josh explains gabagool to Nabeel!
2025-02-271h 17The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #33-39/Josh's Bad Guy Voice (feat. India Miraglia)It's the Ultimate Venom Saga! Friend of the pod India Miraglia joins the guys to discuss a major arc in Ultimate Spider-Man! The gang loves these issues, especially for how they connect to the broader Ultimate Universe. Peter learns more about his parents, Eddie Brock is introduced, and we get a fresh take on the Venom symbiote. Bonus: Nabeel and Josh might have settled the MJ vs. Gwen debate, once and for all (maybe)!
2025-02-201h 35The Ultimate Comics PodcastThe Ultimates #7-13/Zoinks! We Got Nuked! (feat. Annika Falconer)CONTENT WARNING: This episode does discuss domestic abuse as it pertains to the story. Special guest Annika Falconer returns to speak with Josh and Nabeel about the second half of The Ultimates! The story really heats up with the introduction of Hawkeye and the additions of Black Widow, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch to the team! The gang talks about media ruthlessness, white knighting, black ops squads, and more! Plus: Josh can't stop promoting Killing Eve!
2025-02-131h 37The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #28-32/Gwen Stacy PropagandaThe guys keep rolling along with Ultimate Spider-Man! But first, they dig into the oversized Ultimate Spider-Man Super Special, the conclusion to Ultimate Marvel Team-Up! They're not huge fans of this special, but generally agree that it features some incredible artists. In the main series, things get intense! Josh and Nabeel love these issues, despite getting caught in their recurring MJ vs. Gwen war. Plus, the shocking death of a major character! Fun stuff all-around!
2025-02-061h 44The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #22-27/Eating Those EggsCONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly touches on self-harm and suicide as it pertains to the story. The boys continue with Ultimate Spider-Man! Things get more intense than ever, as Josh and Nabeel cover the return of the Green Goblin! These issues have it all: high stakes, brutal fight scenes, and more drama than you can spin a web at! The guys rave about these issues, discuss obscure villains, and debate whether or not the Goblin Formula is stronger than the Super-Soldier Serum! Plus: special guest stars that we can't even spoil!
2025-01-301h 19The Ultimate Comics PodcastThe Ultimates #1-6/We Need More Women (feat. Annika Falconer)A very special episode! Friend of the pod Annika Falconer joins Josh and Nabeel to talk about The Ultimates #1-6! This is Annika's first exposure to the Avengers, so the guys get her thoughts on the characters, the political themes, and the overall story of this modern take on Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Time to put the accessibility of Ultimate Marvel to the test! Josh also struggles to remember movie titles and alienates fans of Grey's Anatomy.
2025-01-231h 29The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men #13-20/Professor Xavier is a Jerk!Nabeel and Josh continue talking about Ultimate X-Men! The guys delve into a fun Gambit two-parter, before getting into the next major story arc. SPOILERS: Professor Xavier is a jerk! Josh and Nabeel talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly, as these issues dive into Professor X and his philosophy. Plus, the introduction of Betsy Braddock, Moira MacTaggert, and Proteus! Nabeel also geeks out about Colossus. A lot.
2025-01-161h 15The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men #7-12/Unleash the DinosaursJosh and Nabeel get back into Ultimate X-Men! Nabeel thinks the second story arc is a big step up, but Josh isn't too impressed. The guys also dive into some new characters (Nightcrawler!), Ultimate Wolverine's character development, the role of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Ultimate Marvel, and more! And yeah, Josh mentions cannibalism. Again. *Sigh*
2025-01-091h 08The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Marvel Team-Up #9-16/Ryan Reynolds's Day OffNabeel and Josh finish up the last half of Ultimate Marvel-Team Up! These issues are a who's who of Marvel heroes, including Doctor Strange, Black Widow, Shang-Chi, and more! The guys go on tangents about Sam Raimi, why they love Spider-Man (again), and current Spider-Man comics. All this, plus Josh is obsessed with the depiction of polo shirts in media!
2025-01-021h 16The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #14-21/Who is Gwen Stacy?CONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly mentions suicide, as it pertains to the comics. Nabeel and Josh get back to Ultimate Spider-Man! In this batch of issues, we meet Ultimate Marvel's versions of Doc Ock, Kraven the Hunter, and Gwen Stacy! Josh and Nabeel spend most of the episode arguing about Gwen Stacy as a character, before raving about these issues and Spider-Man as a superhero. All this, plus we gain an insight Josh's personal life!
2024-12-191h 12The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men #1-6/Our First Taste of CannibalismNabeel and Josh are so excited to talk about the first arc of Ultimate X-Men (and issue #1/2)! Our hosts have a lot to say about these issues, from the gorgeous artwork to the questionable characterizations. Josh hates the outfits, Nabeel is mortified by this version of Wolverine, and both of them think Magneto is a little too evil here. All this, plus Nabeel and Josh argue over continuity like real nerds!
2024-12-121h 16The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Marvel Team-Up #6-8/Spider-Man's ButtWe're back from Thanksgiving! Nabeel and Josh get into Ultimate Marvel #6-8, a short story arc featuring The Punisher, Daredevil, and Spider-Man('s butt)! Finally, Nabeel can talk about how much he dislikes The Punisher! Your hosts also discuss criminal rehabilitation, the dangers of idolizing anti-heroes, and why Ultimate Daredevil is a jerk! All this, plus Josh completely misremembers the premise of 50 Shades of Grey!
2024-12-0548 minThe Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Elektra #1-5/There's More?Nabeel and Josh dive into Ultimate Elektra! Wait, more Elektra? Yup, it's a sequel to the last comic! Nabeel loves the action in these comics, Josh hates the needless midriff, and there's even a small tangent about Smallville! Remember that show? We do!
2024-11-211h 06The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Daredevil & Elektra #1-4/ Oh No He's Hot!Nabeel and Josh cover their first non-Spider-Man comic, Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra! The guys discuss this mini-series, including the smaller scale of the story, the changes made to the characters, and the reversal of heteronormative gender roles. Content warning: this episode discusses sexual assault as it pertains to the story of the comics.
2024-11-1458 minThe Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Marvel Team-Up #1-5/Jane Fonda ThorNabeel and Josh get into the first several issues of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up! The boys delve into Ultimate Spider-Man's first interactions with major heroes such as Wolverine, Hulk, and Iron Man. They also discuss mutants, J. Jonah Jameson, secret identities, and more!
2024-11-071h 12The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #8-13/Geeking Out for 20 MinutesNabeel and Josh continue on with Ultimate Spider-Man! After reading through the next batch of issues, they discuss Ultimate Marvel's take on the Shocker, the Daily Bugle, Kingpin, Electro, and more! Bonus: Josh gives his unique perspective on relationship dynamics!
2024-10-311h 20The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #1-7/It Begins!Nabeel and Josh begin their deep dive into Ultimate Marvel with the first seven issues of Ultimate Spider-Man! Your hosts discuss this retelling of Spider-Man's origin, how it compares to the original comic, its influence on Spider-Man media, and other tangential Spider-Man opinions! All that, plus Josh sounds like an old smoker!
2024-10-241h 06The Ultimate Comics PodcastIntroducing Ultimate Marvel/Meet Your Hosts!Welcome to the Ultimate Comics Podcast! Hosts Nabeel and Josh introduce themselves and the idea of the Ultimate Universe! Our introductory episode discusses some of the history behind Ultimate Marvel's creation, as well as its significance to broader pop culture. We even tease what the rest of the podcast will be about (with some brief but unfortunate mentions of cannibalism)!
2024-10-1745 min
The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate X-Men #1-12Mutants, mayhem and murder! We get into the first twelve issues of Ultimate X-Men, something Nabeel has never read before! Join us as we go over what we love about the X-Men, how things change in the Ultimate comics, and how the Ultimate X-Men are kind of terrible people. The action is great, the political commentary is there, but is Magneto really a good supervillain name? Tune in for the great debate!
2021-06-071h 04The Ultimate Comics PodcastUltimate Spider-Man #1-13Our first discussion begins with a bang, with Ultimate Spider-Man! Listen to us gush over Ultimate Spider-Man, explaining what we love, why we love it, and occasionally go on random tangents about mutants. This one's got it all, from Peter Parker's high school life, relationship troubles, first days as Spider-Man, and more! These first thirteen issues are jam-packed, and it's hard to find stuff to dislike about this comic!
2021-06-0754 minThe Ultimate Comics PodcastIntroduction- What Is the Ultimate Universe?/Meet Your Hosts!And so it begins! Meet your hosts, Nabeel and Josh, as we introduce you, the listener, to the Ultimate Comics Podcast! We introduce ourselves, explain how we got into comics, and talk about Marvel's popular Ultimate Comics imprint! We talk about what worked, what didn't, and why we think the Ultimate Universe has some real staying power in the end.
2021-06-0744 min